Chapter Forty-One

Bianca

The past ten days were a whirlwind. Knox and I were back in New York after being in Milan and Paris for his job. I, of course, also made it worthwhile, making progress on my new brand as planned. We met up with Perla, Frankie, Allie and Dom while overseas. And Dom, the pain in the butt he was, had reminded us that in a few days we’d be in the Hamptons for our annual Fourth of July trip, so if I wanted to bring Knox, we’d better talk to Angelo.

Now, I had planned on only doing that when hell froze over, but Knox thought Dom had a point. I hate it when Dom is right. Anyway, I gave in and called Martin to get Angelo’s schedule. Tonight he was having dinner by himself at this Italian restaurant on Long Island. Let’s just say he would be having unexpected company, because Knox and I were crashing that dinner.

I stopped walking when we were just outside of the restaurant. Knox was following my lead, but kept his hand firmly on my backside. “If you don’t want to do this, we can go back home. Just say the word.”

I crossed my arms, my jean jacket puckering in the front. “No, I need to do this.” I rolled my lips and looked up at him, our eyes connecting. “Right?”

He chuckled, rubbing concentric circles on my lower back. The gentle touch calmed my nerves—slightly. More than anything I just loved having his hands on me. “I think it’s a good idea for you. But I’ll support you in whatever you decide to do.”

That was all I needed to hear. Don’t get me wrong, I knew it anyway, but hearing it made my heart melt. “My partner in crime,” I murmured, turning to face him completely.

His eyes went wide. “I don’t know about crime. . . .”

I clicked the top of my tongue on the roof of my mouth. “What if I need a body buried discreetly?”

“Then I will get a shovel and start digging, but I’d prefer to do less criminal things with you.”

“Could’ve fooled me with the things you’ve already done to me, Knox Rhodes.”

He grinned. “Well, if that’s criminal, then I’m prepared to do the time.”

I got up on my tiptoes because even in my sky-high heels (as Knox liked to call them), I was still much shorter than him.

Knowing what I was looking for, he bent down and obliged, kissing me. “Come on,” he pushed, lightly swatting my behind. “As much as I’d love to stand out here all night, we should probably decide whether we’re going inside or leaving.”

I closed my eyes and noticeably shuddered. “We’re going inside,” I decided.

“That’s my girl.”

That’s my girl. His words gave me the courage I needed to walk into the restaurant and ask to be shown Angelo Morelli’s table.

My hands hung at my sides, and while I looked the picture of calm, cool, and collected, they were shaking just the same.

Knox must’ve noticed because he laced his fingers through mine and clasped on tight, lifting them to his lips and kissing my hand. “Don’t worry so much.”

“I’ll try not to.” As we continued walking, Angelo came into sight and my heart pounded in my chest. Hey, I said I’d try. I never said I’d succeed.

It was easy to remain cold and distant when I didn’t see him every day. I could call him Angelo and refuse to speak to him. I could pretend his opinion didn’t matter and I didn’t need his approval to lead a happy life.

Maybe it was because I was raised to look to my parents for guidance; maybe it was because I was stupid, foolish, or na?ve, but whatever the case, I wanted my dad in my corner. I wanted my dad back.

Knox was even more in tune with my emotions than I thought, because he leaned down and whispered in my ear, “It’s okay.”

His reassuring words acted as a cozy blanket for me in times like this. I didn’t think I’d ever take it— him —for granted.

You want my advice? Find yourself a man like Knox. Even if there are a thousand obstacles in your way, go for it. Push them aside one by one and go for it! You only get this one life to live, so live it to the fullest.

When we approached the table, Dad looked up almost immediately. He was wearing a dark gray suit, white shirt, and stoic expression as his eyes met mine and then Knox’s.

I wanted to call him Angelo, to be as frigid as ice, thinking that would help soften any blow that could come my way for bringing Knox here, for holding hands with him as we confronted him together. But I couldn’t. I just couldn’t bring myself to do it. I gave him a shaky smile and greeted, “Dad.”

He must have recognized the olive branch I was trying to extend because he took it, standing up and walking to me. Knox dropped his hold on my hand as Dad went in for a hug. “Hi, baby girl,” he said, holding onto me tight.

We didn’t say anything else, just stayed like that for a moment. Maybe a moment too long, but it was exactly what we needed. I inhaled deeply, fully taking it all in. I missed him. More than I’d thought.

Dad kissed my cheek before backing up and taking his seat again.

“Angelo, it’s nice to see you again,” Knox said, trying his best.

Frankly, it warmed my heart to see. I was grateful. Grateful to this man who had stuck by me when any other man would have run for the hills in a tough-as-nails situation like this.

Don’t think I hadn’t noticed the way Dad had clearly been trying to ignore Knox. I just wasn’t going to dwell on that. I’d known where he stood on that particular topic, and that was why Knox and I were going to have dinner with him and try to make things right. For the briefest of moments, though, it was nice to have us back—our dad and daughter dynamic.

Still ignoring Knox (seriously, he didn’t even look his way), Dad said, “Please join me,” and gestured to the chair in front of him.

“Thank you, Angelo,” Knox returned.

It was a two-person table, so Knox dragged a chair over and set it beside my dad before gesturing for me to sit. Knox pushed my chair in and walked to the opposite side of my father’s chair and sat across from him. Their gazes locked, but neither said a word. Talk about a tense situation.

I studied Knox’s posture. It was fighter-ready, his back straight and chest out, like he was prepared to go a dozen rounds with the man in front of him if need be.

My dad sat up, too, his brows arched and his eyes narrowed as he stared in Knox’s direction, clearly hoping Knox was getting the silent message he was conveying. I didn’t need to be a mind reader to know what my dad was thinking: I don’t want you here, do you understand me? The only reason I’m even forcing myself to tolerate you is for my daughter .

Believe me, he might have seemed scary, but on the inside he was a soft teddy bear, the same man that used to play dolls with me when I was little because Mom was working and he wanted to be part of my childhood.

Oh, and what was I doing? Well, I was looking out of the corner of my eyes at Knox and Dad, Knox and Dad. I twisted my fingers together in my lap, my palms sweaty.

I cleared my throat audibly. “It’s a little hot in here, isn’t it?” I asked and took off my jean jacket and hung it on the back of my chair.

They both looked at me, expressions soft. “No,” they said in unison and looked at each other as though startled by the prospect that they could agree on something.

“Are you okay?” Knox inquired, leaning over and finding my hand in my lap. He gave it a little squeeze and I relaxed at his touch.

My dad gave him a like-you-give-a-shit look and I shook my head, removing Knox’s hand from mine and shifting in my seat. “Enough,” I said, a little too loud to even my own ears.

They both whipped their heads back to me.

“What’s going on, Bianca?” my dad finally asked the one question that must’ve been on his mind since we’d arrived.

Ugh, why was this so hard for me to get out?

Daddy, Knox and I are together and nothing you say is going to change that. Just thought you should know. Oh, and by the way, he’s coming with me to the Hamptons.

No, that wouldn’t do.

Daddy, you’ve always told me you want me to be happy. And, well. . . Knox makes me happy.

That was too cheesy and sappy.

See, nothing was good enough; nothing sounded right. That was it, this was a mistake. We were leaving. We had to, right? No other choice. Oh, well. At least I tried.

I looked to Knox and gave him a sheepish look—one he would know meant that I was at odds with myself and was considering leaving.

He smiled and I broke out in goosebumps. Knox was trying his hardest to give me the validation I so desperately needed without saying a word, and it was working. I turned to Dad, swallowed hard and went for it—“Daddy, Knox and I are seeing each other.”

His immediate reaction: spinning the ring on his finger.

Of course he did. I’d just told him I was going against what he wanted and doing what I wanted regardless.

In less eloquent terms, it basically went a little something like this:

Dad: I forbid it.

Me: I don’t care. Bite me.

Finally, he spoke—“You’re seeing each other?”

I nodded and reached for Knox’s hand, squeezing it. I had no idea where this was going, but we were in this together.

“I suppose that’s good because poor eyesight doesn’t run in the family, so I’d be concerned if you couldn’t see him.”

Did he just crack a joke? A joke! A lame joke, but a joke nonetheless. I was over here freaking out and that was how he was going to play this. Nope, I had not seen that coming. Trying again, I shook my head. “I mean it, Dad. Knox and I are dating. We’re together.”

He blinked.

I blinked.

He blinked again.

I peered at Knox.

Knox blinked, his steely gaze fixed on my dad. Waiting. Anticipating.

I know the feeling, baby.

But I gave in first, elaborating, “See, Dad, Knox and I are—”

”No!” My dad’s voice was loud and deep, coming straight from his core. He looked around, his eyes growing angrier by the second. You couldn’t see the fire raging in them, but I feared I’d have to call the local fire station to put it out before it sent the whole restaurant up in flames.

Knox gave my hand a gentle squeeze and we waited with bated breath for what he was going to say next, because I could assure you it wasn’t just over with the “no!”.

The good news was that we were in a public setting, so he wouldn’t make any more of a spectacle. Dad was nothing if not sophisticated; his image meant everything to him. And this girl right here was not stupid, she knew what she was doing when she decided to barge in on his dinner. Go ahead, I’ll wait for your round of applause.

Dad’s lip twitched. “I like to consider myself a reasonable man, Bianca. But I have rules in place for a reason, for your own good. Seeing him is strictly forbidden. I forbid it. I made myself very clear that you were not to get entangled with this. . . this. . . leech.”

Got it. Forbidden. Hear you loud and clear.

I could feel my face heating up and hot tears stinging my eyes. I tried to blink them away, so that I could say what I’d come here to say without a broken voice. “But Daddy—”

“You are na?ve, Bianca, if you think this boy actually cares about you.”

“But Daddy—”

He shook his head, his fingers still on his ring as if it was his power source. “I prayed to your mother and all the saints and angels to give me clarity, to help me understand my gabadost daughter. It seems my prayers have gone unanswered because I don’t understand. I don’t understand why you’re doing this. So instead, I will pray for you to come to your senses.”

“You know, growing up you always said you wanted what was best for me. You wanted me to be happy and have a full life.” I shook my head. “You lied. You didn’t want me to have any of those things. You wanted me to have the life you approved of, one that you were happy with.”

“Have you lost your mind? You don’t know what you’re getting yourself into.”

I couldn’t listen to him anymore, the same old story. So I cleared my throat and looked him in the eyes. “No, Daddy, you don’t know. You raised me to be my own person and make good decisions. I may have made some bad ones in the past, but those were mine to make. And I learned from them, each and every single one. This”—I glanced over at Knox, who was staring at me with nothing but compassion in his eyes—“choosing to be with Knox is the best decision I have ever made, trust me.”

“You’re not leading with your head on this one and you’re going to get burned,” he continued, clearly determined to get out what was on his mind.

Ugh, I was so sick of him cutting Knox down, making him out to be this villain. Knox was not a villain—he was a goddamn prince among men. He was my prince. He was everything I’d ever been searching for and then some.

“Have you even been listening to me? Did you hear a word I said?”

“Did you hear what I said?” he countered.

I decided to try another angle. “You don’t even know him!”

“I don’t have to. They’re all the same. People like Knox mooch, that’s what they do. They’re parasites that don’t stop sucking until they’ve taken you for everything you’re worth, for every last drop of blood.”

“Stop! I won’t hear this anymore, this. . . this nasty, venom-filled talk about a good man. Knox has never been anything but good to me, and even you, and you’ve never given him a chance. You know, it was actually his idea to come here. He convinced me that I needed to see you; to tell you that we were together and that it’s almost Fourth of July—”

“I’m familiar with the calendar.”

Righteousness on my side, I narrowed my gaze. “I’m taking him to the Hamptons with me.”

Eyes wide, he clenched his jaw and said through gritted teeth, “No, you’re not. I will not have a leech in my house.”

I swallowed past the lump in my throat and braved on. “I don’t care. It’s not just your house. We all own it equally. It’s just as much mine as it is yours.” That’s a story for another time, but basically a few years ago, we all kicked in money and bought a bigger house in the Hamptons that we could grow into. “I have every right to bring him with me and I’m not going to let you sit here and slam the door on my happiness.”

“You will tear this family apart, Bianca. End it. Now!” With each word, his voice was more gravelly, more harsh, his words cutting deeper than any knife could.

I felt my bottom lip start to tremble. I was getting emotional, not just because he was practically yelling at me for choosing to be with Knox, but because this was an emotional rollercoaster that I was sick and tired of being on.

These arguments were sucking the life out of me, and I was done. Done having the same conversation over and over again.

My eyes as big as saucers, I directed all my pent-up anger at him. “I will not end it.”

“This is not up for discussion. You are not a child anymore, Bianca. I mean it, this is over. You are coming back home and going to get your life back on track. This has gone on for far too long!”

“But Daddy, I love him!”

* * *

Knox

I couldn’t stop the larger than life, blinding smile that spread across my face.

Bianca Morelli loved me.

She loved me.

We had never brought up the L-word. But hearing it fall from her beautiful lips made my heart clench in my chest. You wouldn’t know this, but to be loved by Bianca Morelli was like having your heart and your soul lit up from within.

I didn’t give a shit that Angelo was present when she proclaimed her love for the first time. And I certainly didn’t care that I was going to do the same, that we would forever share this moment with the one person who refused to see that it was happening whether he cared for it or not. Because nothing in this world would have stopped me from telling her I felt the exact same way.

I brushed my hand on top of her arm to got her attention. Her eyes connected with mine instantly. “I love you, too.”

Her brows perked up and I could tell she was biting the inside of her cheek, clearly trying her best not to shed any more tears. “Really? Because I know I said it and you probably feel like you have to say it now, too, but you don’t. Seriously, I’m okay with it if you need more time.”

I don’t need any more time. “Absolutely I mean it. I love you, Bianca.”

Her cheeks were glistening, but I knew the tears sliding down her face in this moment were happy ones. And that was all that mattered—-that Bianca was happy.

Which was why I wasn’t going to sit back any longer and watch Angelo make her cry, make her feel bad for falling in love with me. I’d bit my tongue until now because I’d known this was something Bianca had to do on her own. I never doubted for a second that she could stand up to her father. She’d done it once before, after all. I just wished she hadn’t had to do it again.

So as much as I wanted to cherish this moment with Bianca, I had to make sure Angelo knew where I stood on this topic.

Angelo cleared his throat, making Bianca and I break eye contact. “As sweet as this is, I came here to eat, not lose my appetite.”

Bianca turned and ran a hand through her hair as she tried to gain her composure.

I turned all my attention to Angelo now, my eyes ablaze with the heat of a thousand suns for the way he’d been treating his daughter. “I don’t like seeing Bianca unhappy.”

Even as the words left my mouth I knew that was an understatement, quite possibly the biggest understatement of the century. I couldn’t stomach seeing Bianca anything but her usual happy, bubbly self. I hated it when someone made her sad or upset. Frankly, it made me want to crack their skull, but I’d settle for having my fist collide with their face. Although, this situation with Angelo was different. If I had it my way, Angelo Morelli would be my father-in-law one day, so you could see how my impulses wouldn’t necessarily help the situation.

Angelo leaned back in his chair, squared his shoulders and drew his brows together. “Not wanting to see her unhappy might be the one thing we can agree on.”

Maybe we’re making some progress. “Which is why you should know I would never do anything to hurt your daughter.” I’d rather suffer a slow, painful death. Just the thought of inflicting pain on her made me physically ill. True, I wasn’t perfect, and I feared one day I might screw up and hurt her unintentionally—that was part of being in a relationship. That I could handle, although I would grovel a shit ton. But to intentionally do it? No, I could never.

He snarled. “You say that now, but when it’s most convenient for you, you’ll take what you want and never look back.” He lifted his hand and pointed a finger at me. “Men like you don’t care what they have to do to get what they want. They cause damage and ask for forgiveness later. Well, I’m not my daughter, I don’t forgive and forget. Bianca has a big heart, so she may think she’s in love with you, but really she’s in love with the notion of you.”

The notion of me? What was that supposed to mean?

I heard a sound come from Bianca, like she was about to say something, but then she clamped her mouth, leaning back.

“I don’t know what it’s going to take for you to see that I don’t care about your family’s status or your money.” There was really no other way to put it. “I care about Bianca. I want to be with her and make her happy.”

He rolled his eyes.

I could’ve ended it there, but I had so much more to say to him, so much more that I had been pushing down so I wouldn’t stir the pot and cause more trouble for Bianca and their relationship. But Angelo didn’t need any help in that department, he was making a dumpster fire of it all on his own. “You know what, I don’t care.”

“Excuse me?”

“I don’t care,” I said in a louder voice. We both knew he’d heard me the first time, but he had wanted me to repeat it, so I did. “I’ve been looking for you to like me when, if I’m being honest, I don’t really care for you. The way you’ve been treating Bianca is appalling, and you sit there acting all high and mighty, saying you don’t want to see her hurt when you, in fact, are the only person hurting her. Bianca is a strong woman, and yet every time she talks to you, she ends up in tears.”

I turned to look at Bianca and saw her staring at me, a small smile on her lips. “You don’t have to like me. You can think I’m a mooch or whatever else you want to call me, you can even disapprove of us being together, but I’m not going to sit here for one more second and let you make her feel bad for loving me.”

Silence.

I sat there, waiting for him to say something, anything. But there was only silence.

He narrowed his eyes at me.

He turned his head toward Bianca.

Then he pushed back in his chair and stood up.

Bianca’s head whipped in his direction, the corners of her mouth falling, her eyes filling with tears again. “Where are you going?”

Angelo shook his head. “I’m leaving. If I can’t get through to you, then you’ll have to go through with this and come out on the other side to see for yourself that I was right. But, baby girl, I’m not going to watch as he destroys your life. So when you’re left heartbroken and wish you’d made another choice—because that will be the case—don’t come to me.” He cleared his throat. “Now if you’ll excuse me, I’ve lost my appetite.”

“But Daddy, he’s not—” Bianca’s voice cracked, but she didn’t get to finish her thought because Angelo didn’t let her. He merely said his peace and walked out of the restaurant.

I got up and wrapped my arms around her as she wept against my chest.

My heart broke for Bianca and I wanted to make things better, to make this all go away, but there wasn’t a thing I could do about it. That might have been the hardest part about loving someone—knowing that sometimes all you could do to help was be a shoulder to cry on.